Teresa De La Rosa

Teresa Guevara De La Rosa, 97, born on October 15, 1928, in San Juan, Rizal, Philippines, passed away on January 3, 2026. She resided in North Hollywood, CA, at the time of her passing. Lovingly known as Nanay Terry, Auntie Terry, Lola Terry, or Grandma Terry, she will be remembered for her kindred spirit, beautiful smile, laughter, feisty attitude, strong personality, and her ability to crack jokes and capture the attention of a room whenever she entered or performed.

If there was one thing she cared about most, it was her family. Terry grew up as the second-oldest sibling in a family of six girls, all of whom grew into independent, strong, smart, and family-oriented women. Terry was tough and had to grow up quickly as World War II swept through the Philippines. As the country became occupied, Terry and her sisters fought to make ends meet to help their mom and dad. The three eldest girls, Carlota, Terry, and Presinia, also helped care for the three youngest girls, Venancia, Rustica, and Candida. While the war tore the country apart, their sisterhood only grew stronger. Terry’s quick wit, captivating personality, and bravery helped her and her family survive the war. She even learned Nihongo (Japanese) and befriended both American and Japanese soldiers.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Domingo De La Rosa; her parents, Crispina and Pedro Guevara; her sisters, Carlota Bloomstrand, Venancia Guevara, Candida Bloomstrand, and Presinia Guevara; as well as her children, Johnny Buddle, Roberto De La Rosa, and Fernando De La Rosa. She is survived by her children Maria “Malou” Bishop, Alberto De La Rosa (Manolita), Ric De La Rosa (Mina), and her sister Rustica Delos Reyes. She is also survived by 17 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren, along with many beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces, great-great-nephews from around the world. Nanay Terry was truly the matriarch of the family.

After the war ended, she welcomed her first son, Johnny Buddle, before falling in love with Domingo De La Rosa and starting a family together. Terry and Doming eventually moved to Gumaca, Quezon, a province in the Philippines, where they worked hard to provide for their family. During the 1950s to the 1980s, the De La Rosa family became well known in Gumaca, as Terry ran a small grocery store at the local market. Doming worked as the head mechanical engineer for Philtranco in Gumaca. Terry also shined on stage and at social gatherings, fiestas, festivals, and town celebrations, where she would perform. Doming was known as a crooner who sang love songs to Terry, while she loved dancing and lip-syncing. She was most known in town, and by her family, for her amazing lip-sync performance of the song “Sa Kabukiran” by Sylvia La Torre.

Terry was a social person who belonged to various social circles and volunteered at the local church, San Diego de Alcala Cathedral, where she helped organize fundraisers and raise money for the church. A devout Catholic throughout her life, Terry credited her faith with helping her survive the war and guiding her trust in God every day. Terry and Doming were able to send their children to universities in Metro Manila, traveling back and forth to spend time with family.

In the 1980s, she immigrated to Bahrain with her husband to join some of their children who had moved there for work. After returning to the Philippines in the 1990s, her husband passed away, and she soon set sail for America to be with her daughter Malou and granddaughter. Terry spent the next 26 years of her life in America, where she continued to love and care for her children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.

Her life was rich with love, experience, happiness, and heartbreak. No matter what, Terry never gave up, she kept her faith and remained feisty and spunky until her last day on Earth. She spent her later years having fun, playing around, and making TikToks with her youngest sister, Candida, and her granddaughter Mara. She was lovingly cared for by Malou and Mara. She loved surprises and pasalubong (gifts or souvenirs), which her granddaughter lovingly spoiled her with.

Terry was always dressed beautifully, wore makeup, and truly had the soul of a Hollywood starlet. No matter what was happening in life, she never let it hinder how she presented herself to the world, strong, beautiful, put together, and ready for anything. Her family from across the globe will miss her dearly, and while there will never be another Teresa De La Rosa, different versions of her will live on through her family. Therefore, Teresa De La Rosa will always live on.

Arrangements are under the care of Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills, CA.